Coorg Medal

Instituted:
1837

Qualification:
Awarded by the Honourable East India Company to Coorg soldiers who remained loyal during the Canara uprising.

Description:
Issued in gold (44 examples) and silver (300); 50mm in diameter and of varying thicknesses.

Obverse:
A Coorg warrior with his knife raised aloft in his right hand and a musket in his left hand. The Canarese inscription around the edge translates as, A MARK OF FAVOUR GIVEN FOR LOYALTY TO THE COMPANY'S GOVERNMENT IN SUPPRESSING REBELLION IN THE MONTHS OF APRIL AND MAY 1837.

Reverse:
Knives and war trophies within a laurel wreath and the inscription, FOR DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT AND LOYALTY TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT. In the exergue, COORG, APRIL 1837.

Ribbon:
There was no ribbon. Medals awarded to officers were suspended from chains, those to other ranks from cord. The swivelling suspension and ribbon buckle in the example above were obviously added later (along with the ribbon).

Suspension:
A plain loop as illustrated at the top of this post.

Naming:
Issued unnamed.

Clasps:
None issued.

Acknowledgements:
Dix Noonan Webb for the two images from past auction sales; British Battles and Medals for the background.